Chapter 281 – Forced Awakening
Spiritual entities have no physical form.
Therefore, for a spiritual entity to remain in the present realm, certain conditions are required. Among the most commonly used methods is residing within the vessel of a host, like Karl or Natasha.
Usually, the host’s vessel is larger than the spiritual entity, so no issues arise, but here, it was different.
A place where the presence of a spiritual entity grows rapidly.
In the case of greedy spirits, they could go out of control and attempt to devour the host entirely.
“You, you crazy bastard!”
Natasha gave a fierce warning, but I ignored it and stepped into the domain immediately.
The moment I passed through the wall, an unseen pressure crushed my entire body.
Reto’s presence felt even more immense than it did before.
A 100-meter radius space formed by the crack in the spirit realm.
It felt like territory of the spirit realm fused with the present realm.
As the territory amplified Reto’s presence like a balloon inflating and started to fill my entire body, I involuntarily grimaced.
It felt like something else had entered my body.
If Reto willed it, he could probably take control of my body.
“It’s a pointless worry for me, right?”
The vessel Reto resides in is the heart. Precisely, the heart of Retonicalus—in other words, Reto’s heart. And the only one capable of withstanding that heart is me, who possesses the [Third Mental Barrier].
Despite having the chance to take over my body, he gave it up. Not only because he has no desire for possession, but also because I am the only one who can help him find the path to his wish—‘a perfect death.’
“Here we go.”
As I composed myself and began walking calmly, Natasha’s eyes widened.
“…What.”
The pressure intensified the closer I got to the Shell. The distance between Natasha and the Shell was about 30 meters. She had gathered all her strength just to get this far.
And yet—
“Are you alright?”
“…Not at all…”
He casually approached her and began helping the others.
Carrying the collapsed Cordy and the unconscious Karl on his shoulders, and supporting Natasha as well, he quickly returned to the group’s position.
“You… How in the world…”
“I’ll explain later. Please rest for now.”
After laying Natasha on the ground, I turned my back and approached the Shell.
The closer I got to the center, the more vividly I could feel Reto’s presence.
[An interesting space.]
The reason the witches and Karl collapsed in the territory was because the spirit realm’s energy violently stimulates spiritual entities.
Should I say the closer to the center, the more the spirits go berserk?
In Reto’s case, he simply said it was “itchy.”
“It’s big.”
It looked as if a pumpkin carriage had been split in half.
As it was the shell of a seed that sprouted the World Tree, its size was considerable.
[Over there.]
Peering between the split shell, I saw a red hole, just big enough for a fist, suspended in the air.
A small red vortex.
It seemed to be a rift connected to the spirit realm.
“It’s small.”
[If it were bigger, this wouldn’t have ended so easily.]
“Can entities dwelling in the spirit realm come and go through that rift?”
[You speak too lightly of interdimensional travel. That’s nowhere near enough.]
“That’s good to hear.”
Despite being only fist-sized, a 100-meter-radius territory of the spirit realm had formed.
What would happen if the rift grew to the size of the World Tree?
There was a storyline in the novel about the expansion of the spirit realm’s territory.
A sign of approaching doom.
Though it was only mentioned, it never actually appeared in the story.
“I should’ve read up to that part too, but the author was lazy.”
[What are you saying?]
“Nonsense. Don’t mind it.”
Shaking off the stray thoughts, I asked Reto how I should deal with the Shell.
[Just place your hand on it.]
“That’s all?”
[Once you touch it, you’ll know.]
It sounded too simple, but I decided to trust him and placed my palm on the Shell.
“Huh?”
At that moment, the massive Shell scattered like glowing dust and began to absorb into my chest through my wrist.
No, into my heart.
Was Reto involved in this?
I stared blankly at the mysterious sight for a moment, then suddenly grimaced and clutched my chest.
Thump—!
“…Kuhk!”
With a drum-like thud, blood spilled from my mouth.
The more my heart beat, the more the pain intensified. Before long, the agony filled my entire body and my limbs began to tremble.
“W-What is this?”
[You merely absorbed the Shell.]
“Yeah, but… cough why did I absorb it?”
[The reason is simple.]
Suddenly, my eyes widened as if torn apart.
Because of the pain.
“…Wait a second.”
[You are weak. But this world is not merciful to the weak.]
“W-What are you trying to do…”
[When one enters the spirit realm’s territory, the spiritual entity’s presence doubles. That’s why hosts collapse upon entering. One of two outcomes occurs.]
My jaw dropped.
It felt like my body was slowly tearing apart. My mind was going blank, as if my soul were being ripped.
[One outcome is being overtaken by the spiritual entity. But that doesn’t apply to us. So we go with the other option—forcefully enlarging the host’s vessel.]
Zzzk—
A chilling sound of tearing leather echoed. It felt like something inside my body was ripping apart.
Reto, having absorbed the Shell, began to expand and push against the vessel.
[With your pathetic mana sensitivity, you would never reach 5-Star even with a lifetime of training. So just endure it. It’s not something you’ll go insane from.]
“Ggeaaahh!"
The vessel containing Reto was repeatedly torn and regenerated.
I wished I’d just pass out like usual, but this time, I wasn’t allowed to.
I writhed in pain.
[I want to die.]
It was Reto’s voice, heard amid the unbearable pain.
It wasn’t directed at me.
As he forcefully tore my vessel, fragments of his memories flowed into me.
A faint memory of a conversation from countless ages ago.
[Why do something the gods haven’t permitted?]
[Because death is more natural than life in all worlds.]
[That’s a pointless thought.]
[Life is but a fleeting change. Only death can be called a true state.]
The faint presence smiled softly.
It wasn’t visible, but it clearly felt like mockery.
[That’s not something someone with the ‘Power of Immortality’ everyone desired should say, Retonicalus. Why do you think that way?]
[Because I cannot choose death. A death I cannot choose is a curse.]
Retonicalus extended a ring.
A familiar ring.
The Ring of Desire imbued with my own wish—‘Survival.’
The faint presence received the ring and asked Retonicalus,
[What wish do you desire from me?]
To that, Retonicalus replied—
[Death.]
His wish was incredibly deep, powerful, and desperate.
[I desire a perfect death, Jess Milo.]
Suddenly, I snapped back to my senses.
A quiet space.
Above the now-vanished Shell, the red vortex swirled slowly.
It was the rift to the spirit realm.
I no longer felt pain.
All the pain I had just experienced now felt like a dream.
“Are you alright?”
I turned my head to see Lochter looking at me with concern.
“…How did you get in here?”
“The wall that blocked me disappeared.”
“What?”
I turned and looked up at the red vortex.
The rift still existed.
But the wall had vanished?
I wondered if the spirit realm’s territory had disappeared, but looking past Lochter, that didn’t seem to be the case.
Unlike Lochter, who had run straight to me, those possessing spiritual entities still hadn’t moved from their places.
“Are you really alright, Lochter?”
“I’m fine. But are you sure you’re okay? A moment ago, a massive presence was surrounding you.”
“…Massive?”
“It was a huge, red presence.”
Looking at Lochter, I saw dual swords in both his hands.
He must’ve intended to attack the being that enveloped me, but for some reason, his expression was grim as he sheathed the blades.
‘It was the first time I felt such pressure.’
Lochter recalled the presence.
Just looking at it was enough to crush his mind and steal his breath.
“I think we should leave this place for now. Everyone’s worried about you.”
“Understood.”
I nodded and quietly followed behind Lochter.
Sensing the surrounding energy, I realized this was still spirit realm territory.
Although the Shell—the cause—had been removed, the opened territory didn’t seem to close.
Should I just be satisfied that we stopped it before it grew further?
And that massive red presence that Lochter mentioned, the one that surrounded my body—
I had an idea who it was.
[You endured well.]
It was Reto.
A dry chuckle escaped me.
Endured well? That experience had been horrifying enough that death seemed preferable.
“…Are you joking right now?”
[Didn’t you get what you wanted?]
“…What I wanted?”
[Strength favorable to survival.]
I hesitated for a moment and checked my body.
The strength Reto mentioned.
Five-Star.
But only for a moment—I narrowed my eyes and looked at my chest.
I couldn’t tell any difference.
[What’s wrong?]
“You’re not scamming me, are you?”
[Don’t trust me?]
“After what you just did? What does that horrible experience have to do with your ‘perfect death’?”
[It’s related.]
Suddenly, my heart thumped loudly and my body began to glow gold.
The energy Reto had forcibly awakened—my sacred power.
And yet, the sacred energy flowing through my body naturally dyed it in a golden hue.
“What is this…”
I looked down at my now golden body.
I realized what Reto had done to me.
Enchant.
What could only be used while protected by spirit techniques was now naturally imbued in my body.
Was this the domain of senses?
The moment I felt the energy in my body, I was confident I could handle other attributes as well.
The moment I recalled the energy of Penetration, my golden body began to turn blue.
Even knowing that failure could cause my body to explode, I had no hesitation.
Because I was certain I wouldn’t fail.
A pure Enchant state.
Now, I no longer needed to use spirit techniques.
Using them hindered the heart’s regenerative power, and that fatal flaw was now gone.
According to the flow of consciousness, the light within my body shifted back and forth from gold to blue.
The attribute changes unfolded as naturally as water flowing.
It was the stage where one could activate inherent traits as freely as breathing.
Just as Reto said, I had reached 5-Star.
[It’s about time you added another attribute.]
“…Add an attribute?”
[With your vessel now, you should be able to handle another one with no issue.]
And that meant an opportunity to learn a new attribute had opened.
A hard day had passed.
When another day had gone by beneath the World Tree, a guest arrived at the Ordor Forest.
Not a new guest, but a long-awaited and welcome one.
“It’s been a while, Arthur.”
Sharbadin, partner of Dorneth Gader, arrived leading the dwarves.